Arsenal attempting $68.4m deal for high-profile signing – report

Arsene Wenger appears to be in pursuit of another high-profile new signing during the current transfer window.

The Arsenal manager was lauded for finally spending big in the closing stages of the summer window as the arrivals of Shkodran Mustafi and Lucas Perez took the club’s total spending over the $100 million mark.

After choosing to deploy Alexis Sanchez in the centre-forward position for much of this campaign, Wenger seems to be still in search of a reliable goalscorer to lead his attack.

Thus, the Gunners have dipped into the transfer market for a new option and Torino striker Andrea Belotti appears to be the man on the club’s radar.

According to widespread reports, Arsenal have submitted a bid of $68.4million (€65million) for the 23-year-old which has been rejected by the Italian club.

Indeed, Torino’s sporting director Gianluca Petrachi has confirmed that an approach from the Gunners has been turned down.

“We received and refused a €65m (£56m) offer from Arsenal for Andrea Belotti, but it does not reflect the value of the player.” Petrachi told Sky Italia

“Anyway, he is going nowhere for now. We want to enjoy him, then we’ll see what happens.

“We intend to keep Belotti and president Urbano Cairo signed this important buy-out clause. I think he’s worth more than they have offered.”

If a deal for Belotti was to be successful, the young forward, who has scored 13 goals already in the Serie A this season, would surpass Mesut Ozil to become the club’s most expensive signing ever.